🕊️ Spiritualism

Poltergeist! a New Investigation Into Destructive Haunting: Including the Cage - Witches Prison St Osyth

✍️ Fraser, John
Reader Score
4.2
(5 reviews)
$21.95
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Orbs and Beyond -20%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
John Pickering, Katie Hall
Orbs and Beyond
$22.95 $29.00
86
Immortal Yearnings
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Hemingway, Annamaria
Immortal Yearnings
$24.95
86
Phantoms in the Night or Ets?: My Lifelong Experience of Contact with the Paranormal
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
McAdam, Lorraine
Phantoms in the Night or Ets?: My Lifelong Experience of Contact with the Paranormal
$15.95
78
Transformation 2026
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Strieber, Whitley
Transformation 2026
$21.95
86
Opening To Life (-) -29%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
2
Walsh, Paul Darrol
Opening To Life (-)
$21.95 $31.00
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

John Fraser bridges the gap between spiritualism and scientific inquiry, offering a rigorous update to Colin Wilson’s seminal work. This text moves beyond anecdotal ghost stories to analyze destructive poltergeist activity with empirical precision. From the infamous Cage-Witches Prison to Borley Rectory, Fraser dissects the mechanics of hauntings, distinguishing them from mere apparitions. He argues that while spirits remain ambiguous, poltergeist events offer tangible, provable evidence of the supernatural, challenging readers to rethink the nature of the afterlife through a lens of verified occurrence rather than hearsay.

🕊️
Spiritualism
🏛 6th Books 📖 296 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781789043976
Fun Fact
Fraser delivers a sharp, intellectual rebuttal to the romanticization of ghosts. His strength lies in dismantling the ambiguity of spirits to highlight the tangible chaos of poltergeists. However, readers seeking comforting tales of benevolent ancestors or detailed ritual magic will be disappointed by this cold, analytical approach. It sits firmly in the niche of serious parapsychology, ideal for those who prefer their mysteries measurable.

📝 Description: Poltergeist! a New Investigation Into Destructive Haunting: Including the Cage - Witches Prison St Osyth

There are few factual books written about poltergeist phenomena, John's Fraser's Poltergeist! A New Investigation Into Destructive Haunting fills that void, advancing and updating Colin Wilson's work Poltergeist!, this study's namesake from over 38 years ago. Fraser takes readers on a journey from the Borley Rectory to the Isle of Man, and grounds his readers in an historical overview of 'Poltergeist phenomena'. He examines where such events overlap with other paranormal investigations of 'apparitional' ghosts. What do they have in common, what do they differ? To answer this, Fraser looks to new research on paranormal events, never before published in book form. Fraser contends, perhaps controversially, that ghost sightings are and always will be ambiguous and near-impossible to prove, that only Poltergeist phenomena can be empirically verified.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Fraser’s text is a necessary corrective to the fluffy, anecdotal nature of much modern occult writing. By focusing on destructive activity and empirical data, he strips away the romanticism surrounding ghosts. However, readers seeking traditional ghost hunting guides or comfort in spiritualist reassurance will likely find this clinical tone cold and unsatisfying. It does not suit those who prefer mystery over explanation or who distrust scientific methodologies applied to metaphysical subjects. The book demands an open mind regarding its specific definition of proof, which may alienate purists of either strict materialism or traditional mysticism.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the mechanics of supernatural phenomena rather than mere ghost stories will find immense value in this rigorous analysis. John Fraser offers a compelling redefinition of haunting, arguing that poltergeists provide the only verifiable proof of the paranormal. Those who have read Colin Wilson’s earlier works will appreciate this updated, scientific approach to destructive hauntings. It is ideal for skeptics and believers alike who seek tangible evidence over anecdotal hearsay. By examining cases like the Cage-Witches Prison and Borley Rectory with empirical precision, the book challenges readers to rethink the afterlife through verified occurrences. If you crave a bridge between spiritualism and hard inquiry, this text provides that crucial connection.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Readers skeptical of vague ghost stories but fascinated by unexplained phenomena will find value here. It suits those seeking rigorous, evidence-based analysis of paranormal activity rather than comforting spiritualism or sensationalist fiction.

Reader rating

4.2
Based on 5 reviews
5
1
4
2
3
2
2
0
1
0
R
Rachel K.
March 29, 2026
Good addition to the shelf

Exactly what I was looking for. It reads better in small doses — a chapter at a time with notes. Some chapters demand a slow, careful read, and that's exactly the point.

W
Willow J.
February 8, 2025
Good but demanding

I collect works on this subject and this is a worthy addition. It rewards patience more than any book I've bought this year. I'd have loved an index, but that's on the original text. Still worth having on the shelf.

L
Luna T.
January 7, 2025
A serious text

A friend in my study group recommended this one. It's become a regular reference in my practice. The symbolism is layered and generous to patient readers.

O
Oscar S.
September 27, 2024
Good but demanding

I've read excerpts online before, but having the full text is different. The print is clean and easy on the eyes for long sessions. The language takes some getting used to, but it becomes part of the charm. A few pages arrived with light corner wear, though nothing serious. Recommended with reservations.

E
Esoterica Books editorial team

Fraser’s text is a necessary corrective to the fluffy, anecdotal nature of much modern occult writing. By focusing on destructive activity and empirical data, he strips away the romanticism surrounding ghosts. However, readers seeking traditional ghost hunting guides or comfort in spiritualist reassurance will likely find this clinical tone cold and unsatisfying. It does not suit those who prefer mystery over explanation or who distrust scientific methodologies applied to metaphysical subjects. The book demands an open mind regarding its specific definition of proof, which may alienate purists of either strict materialism or traditional mysticism.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. It is an analytical investigation focusing on the physical and psychological evidence of poltergeist activity, distinguishing it from traditional ghost sightings.
Fraser updates the framework with modern research and argues specifically for the empirical verifiability of poltergeists, whereas Wilson’s work was broader in scope.

📖 Who should read this

Readers skeptical of vague ghost stories but fascinated by unexplained phenomena will find value here. It suits those seeking rigorous, evidence-based analysis of paranormal activity rather than comforting spiritualism or sensationalist fiction.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Empirical Paranormal Verification

Destructive Haunting Mechanics

Poltergeist vs. Apparition

📜 Historical context

Emerging from the mid-20th-century surge in occult interest, this work directly engages with Colin Wilson’s earlier investigations. It reflects a shifting cultural move from Victorian spiritualism toward mid-century psychological and sociological explanations for haunting, positioning poltergeist activity as a distinct, observable category within the broader study of the supernatural.

📚 Glossary

Poltergeist
Apparitional
Empirical Verification

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. How do you define 'proof' in the context of the supernatural?
  2. What distinguishes a physical disturbance from a psychological projection in your experience?
  3. Where does the line between haunted location and haunted person blur?

🏛 Books from this publisher 6th Books

All books from this publisher →
Electronic Voices: Contact with Another Dimension?
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Cardoso, Anabela
Electronic Voices: Contact with Another Dimension?
$24.95
86
Shadows in the Night: Memoirs of a Ghost Hunter
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jarvis, Diana
Shadows in the Night: Memoirs of a Ghost Hunter
$19.95
78
An Angels' Guide to Working with the Power of Light -16%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Newbury, Laura
An Angels' Guide to Working with the Power of Light
$14.95 $18.00
81
Delayed Departure: A Beginner's Guide to Soul Rescue -21%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Merivale, Ann
Delayed Departure: A Beginner's Guide to Soul Rescue
$14.95 $19.00
81
Journey Home: A True Story of Time and Inter-Dimensional Travel -29%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rinar, Tonika
Journey Home: A True Story of Time and Inter-Dimensional Travel
$16.95 $24.00
81
Beyond Photography: Encounters with Orbs, Angels and Light-Forms -16%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Katie Hall, John Pickering
Beyond Photography: Encounters with Orbs, Angels and Light-Forms
$24.95 $30.00
78
Spiritwalking: Living and Working with the Unseen: A Psychic Handbook
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Palin, Poppy
Spiritwalking: Living and Working with the Unseen: A Psychic Handbook
$24.95
86
Christy's Journey: Through 12 Past Lives
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jenkins, Peter Watson
Christy's Journey: Through 12 Past Lives
$19.95
78

You might also like

See more →
I'm Still with You: True Stories of Healing Grief Through Spirit Communication -30% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
8
Obley, Carole J
I'm Still with You: True Stories of Healing Grief Through Spirit Communication
$22.95 $33.00
86
Orbs and Beyond -20%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
John Pickering, Katie Hall
Orbs and Beyond
$22.95 $29.00
86
Immortal Yearnings
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Hemingway, Annamaria
Immortal Yearnings
$24.95
86
Mediumship Within -28%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ratter, Chris
Mediumship Within
$17.95 $25.00
86
Multidimensional Evolution: Personal Explorations of Consciousness
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
McCaul, Kim
Multidimensional Evolution: Personal Explorations of Consciousness
$22.95
81
An Angels' Guide to Working with the Power of Light -16%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.3
6
Newbury, Laura
An Angels' Guide to Working with the Power of Light
$14.95 $18.00
81
Delayed Departure: A Beginner's Guide to Soul Rescue -21%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Merivale, Ann
Delayed Departure: A Beginner's Guide to Soul Rescue
$14.95 $19.00
81
The Angel Journey Workbook: Connecting with Angels -45%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Holmes, Kylie
The Angel Journey Workbook: Connecting with Angels
$35.95 $66.00
81
Life Without Elgar: A Tale of a Journeying Soul
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Merivale, Ann
Life Without Elgar: A Tale of a Journeying Soul
$16.95
78
Phantoms in the Night or Ets?: My Lifelong Experience of Contact with the Paranormal
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
McAdam, Lorraine
Phantoms in the Night or Ets?: My Lifelong Experience of Contact with the Paranormal
$15.95
78

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist